Siphon



July 7, 1925. 1,544,640 J. G. GIBBS SIPHON Filed Dec. 11, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 l6 :4 CLEAR uin 1 WITNESSES (NVENTOR JG Gil/$25,

I BY Ai ZEZRE' July 7, 1925. 1,544,640

J. G. GIBBS SIPHON Filed Dec ll, 1925 2 Shee s-Sheet 2 WITNESSES I 11v VENTOR J a a w ATTORNEYS Patented July 7, 1925. L;

JOHN vG'occn GIBBS, on NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN G. GIBBS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Siphons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in siphons, and it consists of the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed. I

An object of the invention is to provide a siphon particularly adapted for use in de-' canting clearcane juice in the manufacture of sugar. l

.A further object oftheinvention is to provide a siphon which, although primarily intended for the-aforesaid purpose, is adaptable to any circumstance where it is desired to separate a stratum of clear liquid from strata of scum, sediment and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a siphon 'by'the' use of which the separation of liquids and solids in the manufacture of sugar is facilitated when such separation 'is carried out by the process of subsidation and decantation.

Another object of the invention is to pro' vide a siphon having a novel arrangement of air cocks by the use of which the siphonic action may be automatically stopped at various liquid levels. 7 Other objects and advantageswillappear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: l 4 Y Figure 1 is a plan viewof the siphon.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional illus trating the various positions of the movablesiphon pipe. y I

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the float. 1

Figure 'is a side elevation of the float. Figure 5 is-a section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the construction of the swivel joint of the movable pipe. I

Figure .6 is a detailed section taken substantially on line 6- 6 of Fig.1 and illustrating the check valves at the free extremity of the movable pipe.

In carrying out the IIIVGIItlOII PIOVlSlOII is .Jll'lad of a pipe 1,-which is movable in a tank '2. This tank is] adapted to containfcane juice from whichthe clear. liquid is to be r w .1 t e e te wr lif u l a a r I I Application med December 11, 1923. serial No. 679,990.

container 2 may be of any dimensions inasmuch asthis has nothing to do with the invention. I

An elbow 3 joins the movable pipe 1 with a nipple 1 of the swivel joint illustrated in detail in Fig. 5. A complementary nipple 5 screws into a similar elbow 6 which in turn has connection with a pipe 7. This pipe is rigid inasmuch as it is suitably clamped by plates 8 to one wall of the container 2. The stationary pipe 7 carries a globe valve 9 which is the main valve by which the apparatus is operated. In'this capacity'the valve 9 controls the flow of liquidto the siphon which comprises the parallel legs 10 and 11. The pipe 7 is connected with the leg 10 of the siphon by a T 12.

This T has a plug 13 in the lower end, into which a water connection 11 is screwed. This connection is controlled by a valve 15.

. The valve 15 is normally closed and in fact the water connection is used only in such circumstances when the siphonic flow cannot be started without the use of water. The legs 10 and 11 of the siphon are connected by a short nipple 16 and elbows 17 and 18, all as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The siphon has the shape of an inverted U.

Situated at the extremity of the outlet leg 11 of the siphon is a valve 19, by means of which the out-flowing liquid may be throttled. I Circumstances may arise when the rate of flow exceeds the proper amount and insuch instances the throttle 19 is used to cut down the rate of flow. The leg 11 car- I ries apluralityof air cocks20.

'Six of these are shown in the drawing. More or less may be used, as may be desired or. become necessary. The purpose of the air cocks is to determine the level of liquid in the container 2 at which the flow is in- -when the siphon is in operation, but which close and'thereby trap clear liquid in the pipe when the siphon action ceases as stated before. The fitting 21 carries a bar 24, which has a number of perforations 25' tended to automatically cease. For example, if the uppermost air cock is opened, the

to any one of which the bolts26 of the yoke 27 (Figs. 3 and 4) may be connected.

This yoke branches out laterally'in respect to the bar 24L, the'upright=portions-28there of being threaded so that the float 29n1ay be adjusted high or low. The float haslateral ears 30 which are-loosely movable on the uprights 28. Nuts 31 above and below the ears serve as .the'adjusting .meansrfor the float. lhe purpose of adjusting the float, is to station the inlet check 'alves 22 .and 23, at variouslpositions.in respectto the liq-g uid levels in the container.

- erilrttention is directed to Fig. .Asbet'ore stated rthisis adetail oithe swivel-connectionof the'movable pipe l -With the stationary pipe 'Z. The nipple- 5=has athreaded-shoulder which receives the, swivel coupling that the container 2 is intended to re'ceivej cane juice as one of the stepsln the clarificationthereol urthe manufacture of sugar.

Assume the container 2 to be full to the levelindicated by the line-a. Thefloat ivillassume the dotted line position subs antially as shoivninliig. 2. Inasmuch as the float is connected with l the movable ,pipe 1,..the latter Will assume such position in fvvhich the inlet vcheck valves 22 and .23 will be in a certain position below the liquid leve1. .eitherqby means oft-he b'olt 26 or .tl'iethreaded uprightsQS ofthe yokeQi'.

After having; filled the container 2' as stated thatportionof the cane juice which is .lighter than the liquid accumulates {at the top between the levels and'theline a". This is a stratum of scum. That-, portion..of the sus )ended matter in the cane 'u-ice Which is r l heavier than the liquid begins .to settle and Within a certain period ottime m'ay be assumed to, have settled to the levelJ).

The stratum between the. scum, at'the top and the mud beneath the ne 6 is clear liquid.

As soon as :it has been determined'thatthe It is discharged into a trough "T of any su table design.

starting the siphon the valve 15 in the conto draw' as jthe clear liquid,

nection 14 maybe epenedto admit a jet of Water into the siphon and start the liquid howl 'Hoivever, such difficulty Will not be experienced""when there is a Well defined head of liquid in the container 2. "clear cane liquid flows out, the level of the suspended impurities below the line I) will As the continu'allyget lower, this by virtue of the fact that such impurities ;-are;constantly settling.

By; regulating the. rate-of flow. of the clear liquid through the apparatus ,by means of Qthe t-hrottle.-valve l9 the .main valve 9 may be opened wide and require no further individualwattention. Theqrate of "flowe is governed by the valve 19. The inlet valves .22: and-23 will-follow the suspended inipurh ties (mud downfbut ,will never reach them. 'Assume that it is desired to stopthe-siphonic ,action at the level a. series 20 xvhicjh is in line with the level 0 (see dotted' linelis openedwide. Theothers That air: cock of the are'closed. "The "flow of liquid into the trough .TwvilL continueregardless of the openja1r cock, 'untilf the level c comes even 1 with'theop en' air cock.

til)

} Airmay now enter the'siphon through; the

opencock and permit the' column of clear liquid in jtheleg and pipe 1 to back up, but in doingso the liquid vvill cause the closure of'the check {valvesjf22 and 28 so that none can1-fesc-ape 1i'nto' the container. 7 The liquid thus contained "furnishes the priming [fluid ffor the next slphonlc act-ioni when the container-'2 is again filled. Although not so shown the cont a ner 2 1s in'p'ractice providedfivith a suitable connectionatthe bott'om' 'for .jd raivi'ng off the scum and mud.

rises with the'surface' of the'liquid .until it aga n assumes the (lQttGCl'llllG .positi on .When thele'vel' ofthegl'iquid is at a. The liquid in {the pipe 1 providestheprimerj'as previously This particular position is regulated stated. It should have'been stated before that the mainwalve 9 should be closed when the si'phonic action ceases. The trapping alreadyde scribed.

1 The advantages may be briefly outlined.

:Theuse of thisparti'cular siphonfihastens the process/of separation offthe clear liquid and suspended matter of canejui'ce because 1' the drawing off oitheclear liquid maybe 7 begun after the suspended matter has settled j-fonjlyfa feiv inchesbelow the.- surface of the inlet valves 2-2 and- 23- areisituated in clear" liquid, the-main valve 9 'isiopened 'and thesiphon begins to draw off the clear liquid.

liquid. "Knownfmethods' for a similar-pun pose make 1t necessary to wait until the susjpenjde'dmiatter onur di'ss olved solids have settled a to 7 Within a "few -I=inches of ,the .bottom' Iofthe container'hefore Should there be anyv difficulty atfal'l in beg nning By'means of the two adjusting features 7 of the float 29 (the adjustment at 26 along the bar 2a and the adjustment of the float along the threaded uprights 28) the drawing off of clear liquid may be begun at a point any desired distance below the liquid level a. By following the float 29 down from the dotted line position in Fig. 2, the reader can readily see that the inlets 22 and 23 of the movable siphon pipe 1 are constantly brought nearer to the liquid surface.v The final portion of liquid drawn ofl may be from a point of any desired nearness to the surface layer of scum and this is largely determined by the adjustability of the float along the uprights 28.

In this way only a small percentage of the total clear liquid is left in the container between the scum and mud. Drawing off of the clear liquid may be automatically stopped when the surface of the liquid in the container is at any desired height. This is regulated by the series of air cocks 20, as already described.

The primary purpose of the pipe arrangement outside of the container is to stop the outflow of clear liquid at any desired level and to prevent scum or mud from entering the movable pipe 1. This can be done to a nicety by making the float adjustments in such a manner that the inlet valves 22 and 23 will be stopped in the intermediate stratum of clear liquid. suspended impurities have settled to the bottom of the container most of the clear liquid will have been drawn off, thus the total time which elapses from the'moment the container is filled to the moment the desired amount of clear liquid has been drawn off is made less when this apparatus is used than it is by the old method which requires a long settlement period before clear liquid can be drawn oif.

\Vhile the construction and arrangement of the improved siphon as herein described and claimed is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modification and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim l. A siphon comprising a. movable pipe submerged in the liquid of a container, an inlet check valve at the free end of said pipe, a float supported at the surface of the liquid, means carried by the float for supporting the inlet check valve at a determined distance below the surface, a valve in the siphon for regulating. the rate of flow of liquid from the container, means in the siphon By the time that the siphon at said which is open to admit air when the liquid surface in the container reaches the level of said open means, the liquid in said pipe then closing the inlet check valve, and a valve in the siphon between said regulating and check valves which is then closed to trap the liquid in said pipe for priming the siphon for a subsequent operation.

2. A siphon comprising a movable pipe submerged in the liquid of a container, an inlet check valve at the free end of the pipe, a float supported at the surface of the liquid, a "yoke in which the. float is adjustably mounted, and a bar extending from said movable pipe with which bar the yoke is adjustably connected, said adjusting means being for the purpose of regulating the position of the inlet check valve in respect to the float.

3. A siphon comprising an inverted U section of pipe, a movable pipe submerged by the liquid in a container, a stationary pipe carried by the container to the outer end of which the U-section is connected, swivel means by which the inner end of the stationary pipe is connected with the movable pipe, an inlet check valve at the free end of the movable pipe, a float supported at the surface of the liquid, means carried by the float supporting the movable pipe so that the inlet check valve may move with the liquid at a determined distance below the surface, a vertical series of air cocks in one leg of the U-section representing various liquid levels at which the liquid flow from the siphon is intended to be stopped, i

one of the cocks being left open to admit air into the siphon when the liquid surface reaches the level thereof so that the liquid in the movable pipe causes the closure of the inlet check valve, and a valve in said stationary pipe which is then closed to trap the liquid in said movable pipe.

4. A siphon comprising an inverted U- section of piping, a stationary pipe with which the U-section is connected, a pipe which is movable in a Vertical plane in a liquid container, a swivel by which said pipe is connected to the stationary pipe, a float which carries the movable pipe at the free end and thus moves it in said vertical plane as the liquid level varies, and a valved water connection leading into the U-section for priming the siphon in cases when the flow is to be started with the liquid in the container at a low level.

JOHN GOUGH GIBBS. 

